October Program and Meeting

Sedgwick County Zoo: Avian Conservation in the Marianas islands, presented by Anne Heitman – Sedgwick County Zoo Curator of Birds.

Sedgwick County Zoo has supported conservation of the endemic forest birds of the Marianas archipelago since the early 2000’s. The Zoo is involved in two programs centered on Guam species, the Guam rail (ko’ko’) and Guam kingfisher (sihek). Another project focuses on the endemic forest birds of the Northern Marianas Islands. Over the years, the projects have grown and SCZ’s support has grown alongside. Sedgwick County Zoo is now a major contributor and collaborator in the three projects. Anne Heitman, Curator of Birds at Sedgwick County Zoo, will speak on the goals and accomplishments of the various projects, how the zoo contributes, and opportunities for supporting the work.

Anne earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State University in 2006 and was hired at Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, KS later that year as a Zookeeper. She is now the Curator of Birds at SCZ. During her time at the Zoo, she has worked with a large variety of avian taxa, as well as several small mammal species. She holds many roles in the Association of Zoos & Aquarium’s (AZA) Animal Programs including Species Survival Plan Coordinator for Emerald Starlings and Crested Coua, and Studbook Keeper for Eastern White Pelican and Snowy-headed Robin Chat. She also serves on several avian Taxon Advisory Groups and is the Vice Chair of the Coraciiformes & Bucerotiformes TAG. Anne has been involved with the Mariana Avifauna Conservation project since 2017. This project works to protect several endemic and endangered avian species in the Mariana archipelago. She is also a board member for Pacific Bird Conservation, the NGO that coordinates this project. In addition to her conservation work in the Marianas, Anne is involved with North American songbird conservation in Kansas through the Kansas Motus Network and the AZA Saving Animals From Extinction North American Songbird  group (SAFE NAS). She is also an Adjunct Professor at Friends University teaching the Management of Zoo Birds course.

The program will available on YouTube the next day